Advice on C4 Falcons

[black1]

Hello all
I am looking to buy a pair of C4 Falcons and need help with stiffnes settings. I currently use Cressi Gara 2000hf fins and although there nice and fit great I feel they are a bit stiff and with a bit softer fin I could with a better technique use less O2 and dive better. I spearfish in South Florida warm waters in a 3mm Riffe Camo suit with around 6 lbs of lead. I chose the C4 because the foot pocket looks like it would be similar to the Cressi footpocket and fit my feet well, is this true? so would a softer fin and longer wider strokes be better than a stiffer fin and short burst like strokes,? I like to be relaxed as possible to conserve 02 and I feel the sooohf dont allow this for me. I do not mind spending the money on good carbons so if you all could give me some advice on which stiffness may be best that would be great. 20, 30, or 40?

 

[azapa]

how heavy are you?
what shape are you (long/thin? short/stocky?)
how long have you been diving?
how deep are you hunting?
do you do long surface swims?

 

[spaghetti]

how heavy are you?
what shape are you (long/thin? short/stocky?)
how long have you been diving?
how deep are you hunting?
do you do long surface swims?

Exactly, these are the questions.
However, if you're used to the Gara 2000, the C4 Falcon 30 won't feel too stiff for you: the "feel" of the Falcon 30 is slightly softer as far as I can remember, due to a better elastic return.

 

[black1]

Im - 6'2
weight - 195
Im tall, long legs, sort of skinny legs, broad wide shoulders.
dive only to around 60fsw or less for now
Freediving only a year, scuba over 20 years, been in the Ocean all my life, Im taking Performance Freediving course in October.
Not really long surface swims, usually right next to boat and hover over a spot, never really swimming any long distance to a spot.

Thanks, any other things you need to know just ask and I will provide.

 

[azapa]

30's should do you perfect.

as Spago says, long carbon fins will always "feel" softer. Try them next to a buddy with plastic fins and you'll be shooting along though with 1/2 the effort.

Sometimes the take off from depth, being negative, feels a little scary if you are accustomed to the heavy feedback from plastic fins: don't panic though, two or three good smooth but powerful strokes and you'll be zooming up just fine.

 

[spaghetti]

Agreed: 30's should be good for you as blades.
Now, the footpocket. I don't know what type of f.p. they come along in your country: C4 makes only the blades of the Falcon's, which are assembled with different f.p. in different countries (or from each different distributor): Aquatic or Omer or Sporasub footpockets in Europe, and generally Spetton or Omer footpockets in America...

In any case I suggest you to wear socks. Cressi footpockets are very comfortable to wear barefoot, but all the other footpockets I know need to be worn with neoprene socks.

 

[black1]

Thanks guys for the help in my decision, looks like I will get a pair with 30's flex, I also just got a pair of these socks which I think will help alot.

FreeDiveShop.com

I have size 11 feet and are some what skinny I would say so these should help.

Oh I see now, they are only the blades like you mention, the fuego has the same blade but with the foot pocket as well it seems, I like that look of the foot pocket, have any of you tried that Fuego setup with that foot pocket, pros and cons?

 

[cdavis]

You might want to look into the Dessault pockets. They are making them again. I have both. The 2000hfs are super comfy and I wear them barefoot most of the time. On a 3 day or longer trip, I'll wear nylon socks. The Dessaults are similar, slightly tighter feel, not quite as comfortable, but better power transfer. I can wear them barefoot for a day, but need socks thereafter. The C4s will fit in them just fine, but you would probably have to use some glue to keep the side rails on.

 

[azapa]

hey connor, where have you been? buying that new boat

a note on the Spetton pockets that were supplied with the falcon blades in my case. They are very different to the Omers. IMHO the omers "gape" open too much at the entrance. The Cressi's are long and slender. The Spettons are just wierd: the entrance is narrow, not as much as the Cressi's, but narrow, the length is shorter (but still longer than the omers) but the height around the toes seems way reduced. Almost feels like someone is standing on your toes when you have them on. At first I hated this and looked to swap them, but now I realize that this fit and there very hard rubber makes for an amazing power transfer with 0 wiggling. Maybe its just my feet, but they do well. Still, having said that, the Cressi's have the most wear-all-day comfort of any fin I have used.

Too much info again, and very subjective, but it's what I got..

 

[cdavis]

You got it! 25 ft Seacraft Seafari, its FINALLY mine! Also dove Key West last week with Acardet and his brother. Got to dive with a Blue Marlin, a story that will show up in "stories" as soon as I figure out how to post pics.

Back to the subject. Beauchat makes a pocket that might work for you. It's the most like Cressi of anything I've tried, narrow, very comfortable, but a bit soft for my general style of diving. I have a pair(wear'em barefoot) with a set of soft waterways blades. Very nice for cruising the reef, but a bit slow on acceleration. You can pm Jimdoe2you for the best price on these.

Interesting comment on the toes, Azapa. That is what the Dessaults feel like to me. I worried about blisters at first, but its not a problem and I came to like the pressure.

Connor

 

[DivingDane]

New Omer STingray pockets with the Falcon 30's would be my choice. the new pockets are much narrower and softer than the old millenium. completely different pocket in every way but VERY comfortable. plus have a 22degree angle built into the pockets.

DD

 

[cww180]

I have the Stingray's and don't think they are that much narrower than the older ones except in the heel area which is where it needed to be narrower. And the Stingray's are a great price!

 

[DivingDane]

yep they improved what needed to be inproved in shape and material and kept what has worked so well for them in the past, with the basic blade fit ment (except the locating lug) and reinforcemnt over the top of the foot. overall great pockets me thinks.

DD

 

[cww180]

Yeah narrower in the heel where it needed to be for sure, but still has a descent power transfer. I thought they performed very well with the plastic blades, but I was only in the pool for about an hour.

 

[DivingDane]

yeah i've modded a set of the Omer Pegaso medium blades to fit into the pockets and they really transform the blade by comparison to the Millenium pocket.

the bplan was to put some carbon blades into them but now that i have the Sporasub revolutions my priorities of changed a bit

DD

 

[cww180]

How do you like the Revolutions? I was curious about the new fin from C4 called Skorpio also.

 

[DivingDane]

Very happy with them, the foot pockets are incredibly comfortable and transfur power very well. the angle in the blade allows for good streamlining during the sinking phase to the bottom before hunting.

blade materialfeels VERY similar to the Stingray whihc i like,quite soft but very good response even compared to glass and carbon blades.

ideal for spearfishing i think because the plastic blade is more than suitable for fishing at most depth accept maybe VERY deep dives (for me over 30m) but i know a couple of guys that are going to be trying them out soon and they are far better divers than myself.

all i would like to see from Sporasub in the coming year would be a pair of carbon blades for these fins and they would be perfect.

as for the Skorpio blades i think they are C4's entry level fins made of a lower grade carbon T300-T400 mix i think, which will bring the price down, should be more than suitable enough for spearing but obviously wont have the same feel nore the price tag of say Fuego's, Mustangs or 81's.

i definetly wouldnt be buying these over the original c4 fins unless you are looking for a more robust blade, from what i can gather T300 is less prone to breakage than T700 but could be wrong.

DD

 

[cww180]

Thanks for the detailed response, that what would make them a great carbon fin for spearfishing with the good angle to fit the new style footpockets! How much do the Sporasub's cost?